SCOTT Wardle has passed his driving test at the first time of asking and has collected the keys to a new Volkswagen Polo paid for by Chronicle readers.

Scott - who has now changed his name to his mum's maiden name of Graves - has taken responsibility for his sister Aimee, 11, since the death of their mother from cancer in May.

His story prompted a rush of donations after the Scott Wardle Fund was set up to buy a family car at the end of last year including a substantial sum from MBNA.

Scott, 18, expressed his gratitude this week as he earned the right to get behind the wheel after only five months of lessons.

He said: 'I don't think anyone could be more pleased for me than my mum would have been. This will give us the ability to function as a family and that is something we need. It will change my little sister's life.

'What's really helped is the support of everyone, even people who aren't close friends or family, that has meant more to us than anything.'

Scott, who's new nickname among his friends at Christleton Cricket Club is 'taxi', ad -mits he was nervous before last Friday's test got under way. He said: 'I couldn't have asked for a better instructor and I had confidence because he had confidence in me but I was worried about letting people down.'

But Scott returned to the test centre successful having received only five minor faults.

The Chronicle first reported Scott's story last October when he was trying to secure custody of Aimee.

Then 17, Scott's mum Barbara had died from breast cancer leaving him with responsibilities normally tackled by people twice his age.

Ian Palin offered to give Scott lessons for free after reading his story. He said: 'Hopefully this will make a difference to him and Aimee which was my goal. I'm proud of him.'